MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI) - Serbian authorities have seized the assets of the late oligarch Boris Berezovky on the request of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, according to a statement released by the prosecutors on Tuesday.
"Seven enterprises owned by Berezovsky have been seized. Their net worth amounts to more than 9 billion rubles ($273 million)" - says Deputy Prosecutor General Aleksander Zvyagintsev.
The 67-year-old businessman was found by his bodyguard in the bathroom of his house on Mill Lane, Ascot, Berkshire, on March 23. The results of a post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be consistent with hanging.
The British media report that the former oligarch was on the verge of bankruptcy after losing several litigations against his former business partners. In 2012, he lost a case in London against fellow Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich and agreed to pay litigation costs of 35 million pounds.
Before his demise Berezovsky was sued by his former girlfriend Yelena Gorbunova and Russian air carrier Aeroflot. Gorbunova filed a 5 million pounds claim, while the Aeroflot stake remains unknown.
In his will drafted nine days prior to his death, Berezovsky listed five potential executors, none of whom have yet agreed to take responsibility for the estate, including: two attorneys, old friend Yuli Dubov, daughter Ekaterina Berezovskaya, and Yelena Gorbunova. International accounting firm Grant Thornton has been court-appointed to deal with the estate in the meantime, until an executor is appointed.